At 16.41 hours on 24 Dec 1940 the British Premier (Master Francis Dalziel), a straggler from convoy SLS-60, was hit by two G7a torpedoes from U-65 and sank 200 miles southwest of Freetown. The master, 30 crew members and one gunner were lost. Nine crew members were picked up on 3 Jan 1941, by HMS Hawkins (I 86) (Capt H.P.K. Oram, RN) and landed at Freetown. On 3 Feb 1941, four surviors were picked up after 41 days in an open boat (25 days without food) by HMS Faulknor (H 62) (Capt A.F. de Salis, RN) off the west coast of Africa and landed at Freetown.